True happiness is undoubtedly in simplicity: the new and future collective agreement for the metalworking industry has been signed

After more than five years of work, the trade unions and employers’ organisations of the metalworking branch signed the new and future collective agreement for metalworking on 7 February 2022.

In the course of their careers, practitioners of social law have necessarily been confronted with the thorny question of the conventional standards of the metalworking industry applicable to a company or an employee. Is this employee a manager or not? Does he work in an establishment located in the Haut-Rhin or in the Bouches-du-Rhône? How do the provisions of national texts relate to those of regional texts?

The social partners have therefore decided to simplify the applicable rules. The same collective agreement will be applicable throughout the country for the 42,000 companies and 1.6 million employees concerned, as opposed to the numerous national texts and 76 territorial collective agreements applicable today. The negotiators promise a new text of 231 pages that will replace the more than 7,000 pages applicable today.

Nevertheless, several nuances should be added to this desire to put an end to the confusion. Firstly, the hoped-for simplification shock is not for tomorrow, as the entry into force is scheduled for 1 January 2024 (1 January 2023 for social protection). Secondly, the territories have until 30 June 2022 to negotiate on the possible significant differences that concern their territories and sign autonomous agreements.

The observers of the law will therefore be attentive to the evolutions on this subject so that the mountain does not give birth to a mouse.

Yards accompanies you in these evolutions which will impact, in depth, many companies on the national territory.

Christine Hillig-Poudevigne and Lucas Aubry